'Large Black Creature' Observed Gliding Over Elmhurst, Illinois

Singular Fortean Society / Phantoms & Monsters Fortean Research investigator Tobias Wayland recently posted the following report:

The Singular Fortean Society was contacted recently by a woman who wished to report her sighting of "a large, black creature gliding over Roosevelt Road by Elmhurst, [Illinois], going north, on May 8th" at around 8:15 p.m.

The woman, who asked that she remain anonymous, said that she was in her car driving west on Roosevelt Road in Elmhurst when she saw the creature.

"Roosevelt Road in that area is like an expressway," she said. "It had just crossed over the expressway. It caught my attention as it was going over my car."

According to the woman, she doesn't live in the area but was on her way to her daughter's home in Villa Park to feed her dogs.

"I live in Melrose Park," she said, "[But] I am on that road often to go to her house or the gym in Oakbrook."

The creature, she said, “was larger than a regular bird. It was by itself, at night, with large wings and a long body. The long body is what caught my attention. It was coming out long from below the wings. It never used its wings. It was just gliding.”

It was way larger than any regular bird. The wings were very large. It was all black and it was alone. The lower body was larger than any bird. 

Most birds' head and legs are proportioned to their bodies, and this thing's legs were very long. It was starting to get dark at that point and I was driving fast, but its size is what made me do a double take.

It was going north but it wasn't necessarily flying. I never saw the wings flap. They were extended out. It was more like gliding. It reminded me of a kite. It wasn't going too fast, either, like most birds.

Nothing about her sighting immediately stuck out to the woman as paranormal, although she did say that she has "experienced paranormal stuff” since she was a kid.

"Even now as an adult, I still have experiences," she said.

One thing that did stand out was the amount of anxiety she felt, even before her sighting that day.

"Not sure if this counts, but I was extremely anxious all day that day. So much that I felt a need for a drink or Xanax," she explained. "But my daughter was away that weekend with her boyfriend and I knew he was going to propose so I was waiting for the news. I figured that's why I was so nervous that day."

After the sighting, that anxiety became fear.

"I did become scared after I saw it," she said. "I was afraid to be in the dark. I didn't let the dogs out long because I didn't want to see it again in the yard. I ran to my car once I went home. I was very uneasy and could not stop thinking about. To this day, I still think about it every day."

Have you had a sighting of a flying humanoid or huge bat-like creature in the Chicago, Illinois metro area / Lake Michigan region? The entity has also been referred to as the 'Chicago Mothman', 'Chicago Owlman' & 'O'Hare Mothman.' - Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map - Please feel free to contact me at lonstrickler@phantomsandmonsters.com - your anonymity is guaranteed. Our investigative group is conducting a serious examination of his phenomenon. We are merely seeking the truth and wish to determine what eyewitnesses have been encountering. Your cooperation is truly appreciated. You can call me directly at 410-241-5974 as well. Thanks. Lon Strickler

Red-Eyed Winged Humanoid Encountered by Several Witnesses Near Chicago's Shedd Aquarium

Two women and several other witnesses encounter a red-eyed winged humanoid along the Lake Michigan at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. The description closely resembles other sightings over the years.

The following report was received by Phantoms & Monster Fortean Research member and UFO Clearinghouse founder Manuel Navarette:

"I was out for our regular evening walk with my two friends along the lakefront trail. This was on June 3rd, 2021 at about 10 PM. We were at the museum campus and had just walked around the Adler Planetarium. As we took the path that goes around the backside of the Shedd Aquarium, we saw something ahead of us along the railing. We at first thought it might be someone just taking a break while walking or jogging. As we got closer we saw that it was perched up on the railing and that it was solid black. As we got to within 15-20 feet of it, it turned and we saw what looked like a pair of red eyes and that it had a pair of wings that were on it’s back. We stopped dead in our tracks and this thing started to make a chirping sound followed by a loud screech before it started to flap its wings and took off into the air. As it took off, we heard a scream that came from three women coming in the opposite direction as we were. This thing took off and was gone within a few seconds as it took off toward the Navy Pier. We stood there and caught our breath and got over the fright as did the other women. One of the ladies asked us if we saw the same thing she did and we told her we did. After waiting around for about five minutes to see if we could see it again, we continued on our walk and headed toward home.

I told my girlfriend when I got home and she told me that it might have been a large bird that was perched on the railing and its eyes might have been reflecting the lights. But she also told me about the “Mothman” sightings that have been seen throughout the city and joked around that we might have seen the Mothman himself. I initially laughed it off and dismissed it as a misidentified bird, but my curiosity eventually got the best of me and I looked up these sightings and that’s what led me to this site. I’m not one to believe in the oogey-boogey but this looked a lot more like a man-shaped being more than it did a bird. I just wished I could have gotten a picture of it. You never know, it might have been the legendary Chicago Mothman that I saw. Maybe he’s ready to come out to everyone and might even show up at Pride in the Park this year! The funny thing is, I’ve lived in the Loop for the last 10 years and we walk the same path 3-4 times a week, always the same path and have seen plenty of birds of all shapes and sizes.

Aside from the occasional homeless person or crackhead I’ve never seen anything out of the ordinary and I’ve never had an issue, even late in the evening. This was the first time I have ever encountered anything like this in all of my time living in the loop. Well, that’s my story, I hope it helps and if there is anything further I can add, just reach out to me via email."

Investigators Notes:

We have reached out to the witness to set up a time to speak with her regarding her sighting. Further information will be posted as it becomes available. This is an initial sighting report and this case is currently under investigation and any conclusion as to the validity of this report is still pending.

Have you had a sighting of a flying humanoid or huge bat-like creature in the Chicago, Illinois metro area / Lake Michigan region? The entity has also been referred to as the 'Chicago Mothman', 'Chicago Owlman' & 'O'Hare Mothman.' - Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map - Please feel free to contact me at lonstrickler@phantomsandmonsters.com - your anonymity is guaranteed. Our investigative group is conducting a serious examination of his phenomenon. We are merely seeking the truth and wish to determine what eyewitnesses have been encountering. Your cooperation is truly appreciated. You can call me directly at 410-241-5974 as well. Thanks. Lon Strickler